System and method for managing and administering a high stakes test

Abstract

A method of administering a high stakes test includes providing a proctor device and providing a plurality of response devices, with each response device being associated with one of a plurality of subjects. The method also includes beginning a test and receiving a plurality of signals at the proctor device from the plurality of response devices. The method further includes determining that a first response device associated with a first subject is non-functional and temporarily suspending the test to associate a second response device with the first subject, then resuming the test.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of administering a high stakes test, the method comprising:
 providing a proctor device;   receiving an encrypted offline data package at the proctor device;   the proctor device decrypting a first portion of the offline data package;   the proctor device authenticating a user as a proctor using the first portion of the offline data package;   associating the authenticated user with a test group;   decrypting a second portion of the offline data package based on the association, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion includes a test roster;   providing a plurality of response devices, each response device being associated with one of a plurality of subjects;   adjusting the test roster according to subjects physically present at a test site;   beginning a test;   receiving a plurality of signals at the proctor device from the plurality of response devices; and   ending the test.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a battery level of a first response device associated with a first subject, prior to beginning the test;   removing the first response device from the plurality of response devices upon determining that the battery level is below a predetermined threshold, prior to beginning the test; and   associating a second device with the first subject, prior to beginning the test.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after beginning the test, determining that a first response device associated with a first subject is non-functional;   temporarily suspending the test;   associating a second response device with the first subject; and   resuming the test.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the signals from the plurality of response devices includes a time stamp. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising comparing time stamps from a plurality of signals to determine at least one of:
 an amount of time that a particular subject takes to answer test questions, compared to an average time that the remaining subjects from the plurality of subject takes to answer test questions, and   an average amount of time that the plurality of subjects take to answer a first test question compared to an average amount of time that the plurality of subjects take to answer a second question.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the plurality of signals to determine if a first subject and a second subject are submitting the same responses to test questions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decrypting the plurality of signals by the proctor device into a question identifier, a response identifier, and a response device identifier. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising storing the question identifier, the response identifier, and the response device identifier at the proctor device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting the question identifier, the response identifier, and the response device identifier from the proctor device to a server. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining that at least one of an expected response identifier is missing from the server;   identifying the response device identifier associated with the missing expected response identifier;   identifying a proctor device associated with the identified response device identifier; and   logging on to the identified proctor device to determine whether the missing expected response identifier is present on the identified proctor device.   
     
     
         11 . A method of administering a high stakes test, the method comprising:
 providing a proctor device;   providing a plurality of response devices, each response device being associated with one of a plurality of subjects;   beginning a test;   receiving a plurality of signals at the proctor device from the plurality of response devices;   decrypting the plurality of signals by the proctor device into a question identifier, a response identifier, and a response device identifier;   storing the question identifier, the response identifier, and the response device identifier at the proctor device;   transmitting the question identifier, the response identifier, and the response device identifier from the proctor device to a server;   ending the test;   determining that at least one of an expected response identifier is missing from the server;   identifying the response device identifier associated with the missing expected response identifier;   identifying a proctor device associated with the identified response device identifier; and   logging on to the identified proctor device to determine whether the missing expected response identifier is present on the identified proctor device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transferring the missing expected response identifier from the identified proctor device to the server, upon determining that the missing expected response identifier is present on the identified proctor device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transferring the missing expected response identifier from the identified response device to the identified proctor device, upon determining that the missing expected response identifier is not present on the identified response device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transferring the missing expected response identifier from the identified proctor device to the server, after transferring the missing expected response identifier from the identified response device to the identified proctor device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transferring the missing expected response identifier from the identified response device to the server, upon determining that the missing expected response identifier is not present on the identified response device. 
     
     
         16 . A method of administering a high stakes test, the method comprising:
 providing a proctor device;   providing a plurality of response devices, each response device being associated with one of a plurality of subjects;   beginning a test;   receiving a plurality of signals at the proctor device from the plurality of response devices;   determining that a first response device associated with a first subject is non-functional;   temporarily suspending the test;   associating a second response device with the first subject; and   resuming the test.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising decrypting the plurality of signals by the proctor device into a question identifier, a response identifier, and a response device identifier, and storing the question identifier, the response identifier, and the response device identifier on the proctor device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of associating the second response device with the first subject includes:
 identifying the response identifiers stored on the proctor device that are associated with the first response device; and   loading the identified response identifiers onto the second response device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising transmitting the question identifier, the response identifier, and the response device identifier from the proctor device to a server. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving an encrypted offline data package at the proctor device;   the proctor device decrypting a first portion of the offline data package;   the proctor device authenticating a user as a proctor using the decrypted portion of the offline data package;   associating the authenticated user with a test group; and   decrypting a second portion of the offline data package based on the association, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion includes a test roster.